fANNEtastic food | Registered Dietitian Blog | Recipes + Healthy Living + Fitnesshttp://www.fannetasticfood.com
Registered Dietitian blogging about healthy recipe creation, running, travel, and more.Thu, 08 Dec 2016 14:48:37 +0000en-UShourly1Day in the Life of a Dietitian Bloggerhttp://www.fannetasticfood.com/day-in-the-life-of-a-dietitian-blogger/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/day-in-the-life-of-a-dietitian-blogger/#commentsThu, 08 Dec 2016 14:40:53 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=49799Good morning! Let’s mix it up with another Day in the Life post today. As you guys know, I split my time between the blog and my AnneTheRD nutrition counseling private practice (as well as its associated programs, like my Joyful Eating Program). Here’s what I was up to on Tuesday! 6:05 a.m. – AlarmContinue Reading …

]]>Good morning! Let’s mix it up with another Day in the Life post today. As you guys know, I split my time between the blog and my AnneTheRD nutrition counseling private practice (as well as its associated programs, like my Joyful Eating Program). Here’s what I was up to on Tuesday!

6:40 a.m. – Chelsea picks me up and we drive to Georgetown for our workout date! Having friends to keep me accountable for morning workouts is the best – and it makes them so much more fun. I always really look forward to our workout dates, despite the early alarm!

7 – 7:50 a.m. – Interval/HIIT workout class at Definitions in Georgetown via ClassPass. We hadn’t been here in ages – SUCH a great workout! We spent most of the workout chatting so it flew by. Forgot to take a photo!

7:50 – 8:20 a.m. – Stretch out and foam roll, then shower at the gym and get ready for the workday. Snack on a cranberry crunch Perfect Bar while I get ready because it’s no bueno to wait too long after working out (or waking up) to eat!

I’m LOVING this whole shower at gyms and walk to my coworking space thing – so much more efficient than driving all the way home. The key is just to do it on days I don’t wash my hair – way easier.

8:20 – 8:50 a.m. – Walk to co-working space. (Because working at home all the time as an extrovert = unhappy Anne.) It’s rainy so I’m glad I have my rain booties on! Stop at Pret a Manger to grab a whole milk latte and a more legit breakfast on the way – I love their little egg, quinoa, avocado, tomato, and greens cups – yummy!

8:50 – 10:15 a.m. – At my desk! Get settled and catch up on emails and blog comments while eating breakfast #2 (the Pret goodies plus a clementine from home). I know I should eat without distractions, but let’s be honest it’s not realistic to do this all the time – and that’s okay. I also publish and share my blog post for the day which was pre-written – my 2016 Holiday Gift Guide for Runners, Fitness Lovers, and Foodies!

10:15 – 11:30 a.m. – Pop into a call room for two separate AnneTheRD nutrition client calls, one at 10:15 and one at 11. I always especially enjoy working with clients at this time of year (the holidays) to really help them to find the joy (not the stress) in food/the eating experience. See also: how to have a stress-free holiday eating experience.

11:30 – 11:45 a.m. – Back to my desk! Check in on emails again.

11:45 a.m. – 12 p.m. – Walk to meet a friend for lunch. Stop by the bank on the way to deposit a business-related check.

12 – 1 p.m. – Lunch! I meet my childhood friend Stephanie at Teaism by the White House. We love this spot, and it’s especially cozy on a cold and rainy day like this one! We both have the same thing – the grilled salmon with brown rice and greens – plus some hot tea! So good to catch up with her – and to have a nice break from the workday! I make sure to always take a real lunch break, even if it’s just a short one by myself – so important.

2 – 3 p.m. – Back into a call room, this time for a call with my Joyful Eating, Nourished Life program co-creators Rachael and Alex! We’re starting to plan for the launch of the next round of our 6 week virtual intuitive and mindful eating program – we’re thinking April 2017. Stay tuned! We are also considering offering a self-study option of the program for those who want to sign up anytime, or who are looking for a cheaper option and don’t mind not having a live Facebook group for support. Any input on this is welcome – would you be interested?

3 – 6 p.m. – Heads down work – with the exception of a short break to chat with a coworking space buddy around 5. Snack on my other clementine, raw almonds, and a coconut almond KIND bar while I work (forget to take a photo). I start writing this post, do some business accounting, respond to and do work related to emails, etc. I’m also working to revamp my e-newsletter (which is currently just a daily blast of my entire post via RSS feed) to make it prettier and more user friendly – and to offer both the current daily post option as well as a weekly digest, for those who are into it. Stay tuned for more on that – and if you are reading this via my daily emails and have any input, happy to hear it!

6 – 6:30 p.m. – Back to the call room one last time for another AnneTheRD nutrition client call!

6:30 – 6:45 p.m. – Send out my client follow up email, close out the computer, and pack up!

6:45 – 7:15 p.m. – Make my way home! It’s cold and still rainy but Matt and his friend Ted (who is in town from NYC) are on their way back from the grocery store so they pick me up at the metro. Yay for not walking 20 minutes in the grossness – and for getting home sooner!

7:15 – 10 p.m. – Relax and make/eat dinner! Ted is one of Matt’s best friends (he was in our wedding so some of you might recognize him!) and is in town to meet his brand new niece. He spent Monday and Tuesday during the day while we were at work at his sister’s place (she lives nearby) and then hung out with us at night and stayed over at our place! He’s awesome and I always love seeing him – fun to have him in town! I hang out and drink wine while the guys cook. I could get used to this…

Ted was in charge of salad (he made an epic one) and Matt was in charge of the entrée! Like I said, I was in charge of drinking wine and chatting with them! I also made the salad dressing, which was clearly a huge amount of work.

Matt threw a bunch of chicken breasts, mushrooms, tomato, chopped olives, artichoke hearts, garlic, onion, and a can of diced tomatoes and a little tomato paste and water into a pan with some salt, pepper, and Italian seasoning. Then just put a lid on and let it simmer until the chicken is cooked through! SO yummy.

We end up eating around 8:30 or 8:45 and everything is SO delicious. Hats off to my chefs.

10 p.m. – After enjoying dinner and hanging out and chatting for quite awhile, we decide to have Ted help us put up our Christmas tree! We switch our Pandora station to Christmas music and have a blast decorating. We decided against a real tree this year since we’ll be gone for actual Christmas (in Pittsburgh with Matt’s family), so we put up my old 4 foot fake tree that I’ve had since like high school. We also share some dark chocolate from the pantry for dessert while we decorate.

Such a fun weeknight – Ted, come visit us anytime!

10:45 p.m. – Time to get ready for bed! It’s way past my bedtime. Luckily I know that Wednesday is my workout rest day so I can sleep in – gotta prioritize that sleep!

]]>http://www.fannetasticfood.com/day-in-the-life-of-a-dietitian-blogger/feed/252016 Holiday Gift Guide for Runners, Fitness Lovers, and Foodieshttp://www.fannetasticfood.com/2016-holiday-gift-guide-for-runners-fitness-lovers-and-foodies/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2016-holiday-gift-guide-for-runners-fitness-lovers-and-foodies/#commentsTue, 06 Dec 2016 14:26:08 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=49772Need gift ideas for your favorite runner, fitness fan, or foodie – or looking for items to put on your own wish list? Here are some of my favorites from around the web! (Please note that affiliate links are included in this post.) For the Runner A race registration! Local or exotic. Shameless self plug:Continue Reading …

]]>Need gift ideas for your favorite runner, fitness fan, or foodie – or looking for items to put on your own wish list? Here are some of my favorites from around the web! (Please note that affiliate links are included in this post.)

For the Runner

A race registration! Local or exotic.

Shameless self plug: a copy of my Nutrition for Runners program! Nutrition for Runners is a comprehensive nutrition and training program for runners. In addition to meal guides, expert interviews, and a full recipe cookbook, it also includes a library of training plans (from my co-author, a running coach) designed for either performance or weight loss.

Performance socks. Having socks that wick away sweat and don’t slip down is so key for a runner. I love both bombas socks (for every pair purchased, one is donated – love that) and Brooks running socks (that’s the women’s version – here’s the men’s).

Compression wear. I like CEP compression and Champion CSX. I wear compression socks around the house after runs, and sleeves during long runs when the weather isn’t too hot. They’ve really helped me with shin splint/calf tightness issues. Another option specifically for ankle/plantar fasciitis issues is these compression foot/ankle sleeves.

Ice packs. So necessary for long distance runners! I love Pardice Packs (the cuffs) – they don’t sweat on you and the cuff design means they easily stay around your knees/ankles/legs.

A running belt or hydration pack. I’ve had a SPIbelt for years – I wear it on shorter runs when I don’t have my water vest along for the ride and want to carry my phone. And speaking of water vests, the Nathan hydration vest is amazing for long distance runners (or hikers, or bikers).

A foam roller/stick. I recommend this foam roller – a foam roller is a must for any runner. Using this daily has made a huge difference in recovery/soreness for me! For travel, try The Stick – there are a variety of sizes and it’s more portable. It’s also easier to use while on the couch watching TV.

Headphones that stay put. Matt and I love these headphones – cheap and the only ones we’ve found that don’t fall out while running! Also – these cord tacos are genius if you don’t want your headphones to get tangled in your gym bag or purse.

A wireless speaker. Perfect for those that work out at home! We have a Sonos wireless speaker and it’s amazing – you play music via an app on your phone (we mostly play Pandora on it). For a cheaper option, this speaker is well reviewed!

A yoga mat. This Jade Yoga Mat is my absolute favorite. Not slippery at all! And while you’re at it, a yoga mat sling or yoga mat bag are also useful! If you want a good gift for someone who does a lot of hot/heated yoga, consider a yoga towel – I have and love this yoga towel.

A gym bag. I have this Lululemon backpack that I LOVE – use it almost every day to haul workout clothes and my computer around town.This gym bag is also super cute and affordable!

]]>http://www.fannetasticfood.com/2016-holiday-gift-guide-for-runners-fitness-lovers-and-foodies/feed/14Weekendhttp://www.fannetasticfood.com/weekend-2/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/weekend-2/#commentsMon, 05 Dec 2016 16:35:07 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=49765Hey guys! Matt and I had another low key weekend at home, starting with some Friday night soup! We made a delicious sausage, squash, and veggie soup that was from last week’s Sun Basket (<- affiliate link for 3 free meals) delivery. This was one of our favorite meals so far – so good! PerfectContinue Reading …

]]>Hey guys! Matt and I had another low key weekend at home, starting with some Friday night soup!

We made a delicious sausage, squash, and veggie soup that was from last week’s Sun Basket (<- affiliate link for 3 free meals) delivery. This was one of our favorite meals so far – so good! Perfect for a cold night. Reminded me of my Butternut Squash and Turkey Chili (<- recipe)!

On Saturday, I started the day my favorite way: a run date with good friends.

My college friends Kathleen, Sarah, and I met up for some fun miles on the Georgetown waterfront. We definitely spent about half the run taking photos with this cool outdoor light art exhibition (“Georgetown Glow”) – too fun!

Aren’t they cool? I want to come back and see them at night all lit up, although they were really cool in the sunlight too. Apparently there are more light installations around the area besides these, too!

The ladies and I covered about 4 chatty miles in between our art photos. Kathleen had to head back home after the run but Sarah and I continued the fun a little longer with a coffee date. Loved catching up with both of them!

Matt and I spent the rest of the day relaxing and then headed out to run some errands in the late afternoon. Since we were in Clarendon and done with our errands around 5, I suggested we treat ourselves to happy hour at nearby Screwtop Wine Bar – love that place. Sparkling wine flight? Don’t mind if I do!

The rose prosecco was my fave – I got a glass of it later on in the night!

We were joined for happy hour and dinner by a couple friends, and we decided the nachos needed to happen. How epic are these?!?! They were HUGE – and yes that’s pulled pork. Omg.

They were SO good. If you’re in the area, go get these nachos ASAP. You’re welcome.

A couple hours later we all ordered a “real” dinner – the guys and I were all in the mood for salad after our epic nacho snack. Their salads are also delicious! #balance

As for Sunday, it was super low key! I went to a yoga class late morning via ClassPass (<—affiliate link for $30 off) and threw together a cozy lunch for myself when I got home. I was crazing something warm and salty – tomato soup + tuna salad and crackers hit the spot. Great combo! The tuna salad was canned tuna + hummus + dijon mustard + sauerkraut. Sounds weird but tastes great, I promise. Enjoyed with a side of trashy TV (I’m watching “Teen Wolf” on Amazon Prime right now and it’s kind of amazing) because Matt had already eaten and was busy playing guitar.

Plus some fresh juice (celery + carrot + ginger + beet + cucumber + apple) that Matt made us the day before to use up random stuff in the fridge! (We have this juicer and it’s great.) It was made with what you see minus about half the apple, which we ate while making the juice.

We put up some of our Christmas decorations yesterday and did stuff around the house, and then last night we had a simple “clean out the fridge” dinner of sausages, sauerkraut, sauteed onions, and roasted asparagus. Yummy!

]]>http://www.fannetasticfood.com/weekend-2/feed/20Brooks Winter Running Accessories Giveaway!http://www.fannetasticfood.com/brooks-winter-running-accessories-giveaway/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/brooks-winter-running-accessories-giveaway/#commentsFri, 02 Dec 2016 15:56:27 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=49734Hey guys – happy Friday! I’m happy to report that Matt and I have successfully made it through all our leftover Thanksgiving turkey and turkey soup. No leftover left behind! Since we kept the homemade turkey broth separate from the leftover turkey and any veggies, we were able to make variations on the soup toContinue Reading …

]]>Hey guys – happy Friday! I’m happy to report that Matt and I have successfully made it through all our leftover Thanksgiving turkey and turkey soup. No leftover left behind!

Since we kept the homemade turkey broth separate from the leftover turkey and any veggies, we were able to make variations on the soup to keep things interesting. After a couple days of the basic turkey + carrots + celery + rice soup, our final iteration was a Mediterranean twist that I threw together. I stirred in a ton of spinach, a can of chickpeas (drained), and a can of diced tomatoes (not drained). Plus the rest of the leftover turkey. It was a great combo! While making it, we also snacked on our of our favorite appetizers – sliced cucumber topped with a little olive oil, balsamic vinegar, salt, and pepper. Delicious!

Zoomed out view of the table for my Zara lovers. Keeping watch, as always!

Matt’s soccer leagues are all in winter hiatus right now so he expressed interest in joining me for a quick run this morning before work. Awesome! I didn’t bring my watch (still loving casual non-training mode) but we probably ran about 3 miles. It was nice to start the day together!

And now, while on the topic of running, to kick this weekend off on an exciting note – I’m sharing my annual Brooks winter running accessories/stocking stuffer giveaway! Thank you to Brooks for offering this again for you guys as part of my run happy blogger ambassadorship.

One lucky winner will receive the following assortment of some of my favorite items from Brooks! Guys are welcome to enter, too – you can just give away the sports bra as a gift. Here’s what the winner will get:

]]>http://www.fannetasticfood.com/brooks-winter-running-accessories-giveaway/feed/294This Week’s Workoutshttp://www.fannetasticfood.com/this-weeks-workouts-2/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/this-weeks-workouts-2/#commentsThu, 01 Dec 2016 15:48:20 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=49708Hey guys! I hope you’re having a great week. Before I get into today’s post, just a reminder about my “Count Miles, Not Calories” shirt – it’s only available until Tuesday so get it while it’s hot. And while we’re talking about running, I had a fun treat on Tuesday morning – my long lostContinue Reading …

And while we’re talking about running, I had a fun treat on Tuesday morning – my long lost running buddy Mary was in town for a visit, and we squeezed in a run date!

Yay! I miss Mary – so fun to be reunited! I was working from home so we met up mid-morning at my place for a fun and slightly rainy Arlington loop. Great to catch up with you Mary – thanks for the miles my friend! Also, I like the pace on her watch better than mine, so we’ll go with that.

As for yesterday, I was working from home again and it was really dreary out so I got in a cozy lunchtime yoga class at Edge Yoga. I’m working on my forearm balance – I can only hold it briefly but I’m still proud!

This morning’s workout adventure was Urban Athletic Club via ClassPass with the ladies! It was a tough one today – lots of strength moves. Wall balls and pull ups and push presses, oh my! My arms were dead by the end!

I carpool to the gym with my friend Chelsea, and I used to drive us so she could metro to work after. She got a new job recently though that she drives to straight from the gym, so I decided to experiment with bringing my stuff to shower at the gym and head straight to my co-working space afterward on foot since I wouldn’t have my car to worry about! This ended up working out really well – I didn’t bother washing my hair so showering was easy and required less supplies, and my co-working space is only about 1 mile away, so it was an easy and nice walk. Totally doing this from now on – so much more efficient than going all the way home first!

Sidenote – I bought myself this Lululemon backpack (affiliate link) a few months ago (after reading about it on my friend Theodora’s blog) and it’s THE BEST. Professional and nice looking enough that I don’t feel like a middle schooler, but really comfortable and functional too with space for my laptop, water bottle, gym clothes, etc. Since I walk to and from the metro most days (and travel a ton, as you know) it has been totally worth the investment so I can easily haul my stuff back and forth. ALSO – it has a removable zip-off small purse which makes travel amazing because you can zip the purse onto the bag and voila – you only have two items (suitcase + backpack) and don’t get yelled at for having 3 items (addition of the purse) when trying to board a plane. If you’re in the market for a backpack, check it out!

While I walked, I snack on a Perfect Bar for breakfast – I hadn’t tried this flavor before and I didn’t love it, to be honest – too sweet and meh. I’ll stick with my beloved peanut butter and almond butter Perfect Bars in the future! I treated myself to a whole milk latte on the way as well – and mid-morning here at the office I just broke into one of my Hard Boiled Egg + Cheddar Muffins that I packed from home! I’m thinking next time I might add ham and some spinach or peppers to those… would be delicious additions that add some nice texture variety!

I’m having trouble getting my camera SD card to load my DSLR photos onto my laptop today (my computer got some updates yesterday that must have messed something up…) so unfortunately I don’t have any dinner/food photos for you. Hopefully I can figure it out for tomorrow!

Have a great day guys!

If you’re a morning workout person, do you shower at the gym and head straight to work after or head home first? Any tips for streamlining the process? I definitely want to do that more often!

]]>I have a really fun recipe for you guys today – hard boiled egg and cheddar muffins! These savory, gluten free muffins have a hard boiled egg hiding inside them – cool, right?! Now you don’t have to eat a muffin AND hard boiled eggs for protein – you get two in one.

I first got this recipe idea when we were at Smith Mountain Lake with our friends Tim and Lindsey this summer, and Lindsey made muffins with a hard boiled egg inside. I thought it was brilliant – a portable savory breakfast or snack that included both carbs and protein!

I thought it would be fun to do a gluten free version of these for my gluten free friends – and to incorporate some herbs into the mix for extra flavor, too.

The other gluten free flour used here is millet flour, which lends a creamy color and subtle flavor to baked goods. It’s also a good source of protein and fiber. Millet flour can be hard to find in stores, so I bought it on Amazon. You can find the chickpea flour on Amazon too! (Affiliate links, FYI.) To use up the leftover millet flour, my Gluten Free Dark Chocolate Quinoa Bars also work well with millet flour instead of chickpea flour! (Note: If you’re not into millet flour, brown rice flour will also work in place of it, but it will make the muffins a bit coarser/grainier.)

As always, this recipe is quick and easy. In a large bowl, you’ll whisk together the flours, baking powder, salt, herbs, and cheese. (Hot tip: use sharp cheddar for extra delicious flavor – and don’t skip the herbs!) In another smaller bowl, whisk together your milk, 2 eggs, and the olive oil. Then, stir your wet ingredients into the dry until just combined.

The #1 key for this recipe is that you need to use a jumbo muffin tin – regular sized muffin tins will not work. Don’t say I didn’t warn you.

To make the magical hard boiled egg filling, you’ll first spoon about 2 to 3 tablespoons of batter into each (jumbo!) muffin cup. Then, crack an egg into each of the cups on top of the batter, and divide the remaining batter between the cups, covering the yolk of the eggs. (It’s cool if some of the egg whites stick out around the edges.)

Toss the muffins in the oven and bake at 350 degrees F for 20 to 25 minutes, or until browned and firm to the touch. Et voila! Ready to eat (don’t burn your tongue)!

I hope you enjoy these muffins! Despite being gluten free, they are moist and flavorful – and all that protein and fiber gives them some serious staying power, so you won’t be starved 5 minutes after eating them.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flours, baking powder, salt, herbs, and cheese.

In a small bowl, whisk together 2 eggs, the milk, and the olive oil. Stir wet ingredients into dry ingredients just until evenly combined.

Spoon about 2 tablespoons of batter into each muffin cup.

Crack an egg into each muffin cup on top of the batter. Divide the remaining batter among the cups, covering the yolk on each egg – it’s fine if some egg white sticks out around the edges of the top batter.

]]>http://www.fannetasticfood.com/hard-boiled-egg-and-cheddar-muffins-gluten-free/feed/25Weekend recap + Cyber Monday Dealshttp://www.fannetasticfood.com/weekend-recap-cyber-monday-deals/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/weekend-recap-cyber-monday-deals/#commentsMon, 28 Nov 2016 16:43:04 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=49667Hey my friends – I’m starting off this workweek feeling quite relaxed after our nice long holiday weekend! On Friday night, we had Thanksgiving dinner take 2 – hooray for leftovers. It was just as delicious the second time around. Thankfully we also had some pie and ice cream leftover. Pumpkin pie = one ofContinue Reading …

]]>Hey my friends – I’m starting off this workweek feeling quite relaxed after our nice long holiday weekend! On Friday night, we had Thanksgiving dinner take 2 – hooray for leftovers. It was just as delicious the second time around.

Thankfully we also had some pie and ice cream leftover. Pumpkin pie = one of my absolute favorite desserts!

Matt and I took home the leftover turkey meat and the leftover turkey carcass, which was awesome. Homemade soup, our favorite! We made broth by boiling the turkey bones with veggies (celery, onion, carrot, and garlic) and water, then reducing to low heat and letting it simmer (covered) for about 6 hours.

Our house smelled amazing and the resulting broth was delicious – so rich and flavorful! After the 6 hour simmer, we strained the turkey bones and soft veggies from the pot, leaving just the broth. Rather than making a big soup we left the broth separate and sauteed some veggies in another separate pan, then just poured the broth over them in our bowls. This way the veggies/other ingredients won’t get soft and gross and we can do different variations of the soup!

On Saturday night we had one with carrots, celery, brown rice (leftover and already cooked), and turkey.

Last night we added some other veggies to the mix – zucchini and spinach as well!

As before we added the broth to a smaller pot of cooked veggies, which was just enough for the two of us.

Other leftover creations included a delicious wrap filled with leftover turkey, cranberry sauce, greens, avocado, and mustard. I made this again the next day but with hummus instead of mustard!

I was fighting off a bit of a cold and took Friday and Saturday as super low key rest days from exercise. By Sunday I was luckily feeling up for a run date with friends – hooray!

It was one of those perfect fall running days in DC – low 50’s and super sunny. My favorite! Also, I’m proud to say that Sokphal has now perfected the art of the running selfie.

We did one of our standard favorite DC loops. Felt so good to be out and about! I was surprised when we finished and I saw that we had done 7.2 miles – wow! Great run. I’m still loving this “I’m just training for life and not a race” phase, especially with this great running weather.

Speaking of – I created a fun new running tank I think you guys will love as much as I do! “Count Miles, Not Calories.” It’s only available until December 6 so if you’re into it, here’s the link to buy it. It would make a great holiday gift for your favorite non-diet/intuitive eating runner! Just an FYI if you are between sizes, I’d size down – it runs a little large.

]]>http://www.fannetasticfood.com/weekend-recap-cyber-monday-deals/feed/7Thanksgiving 2016 Recaphttp://www.fannetasticfood.com/thanksgiving-2016-recap/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/thanksgiving-2016-recap/#commentsFri, 25 Nov 2016 16:37:06 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=49637Hey guys! I hope those of you that celebrated it had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday yesterday! I’m thankful for all of you – and for fried turkey. 😉 Sidenote – a bunch of you on Instagram asked where my lace top was from – I can’t find the exact one online but here is aContinue Reading …

]]>Hey guys! I hope those of you that celebrated it had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday yesterday! I’m thankful for all of you – and for fried turkey.

Sidenote – a bunch of you on Instagram asked where my lace top was from – I can’t find the exact one online but here is a similar top by the same brand (Ryu) on Amazon! It was from a boutique in Pittsburgh – Matt’s mom gave it to me. I added the black sash – that’s not included!

We stuck around the DC area for the holiday this year and Matt, my brother, and I kicked things off with our old fave: the Alexandria 5 Mile Turkey Trot!

We love this race because it’s nice and flat and doesn’t start until 9 a.m. The 5 mile distance is perfect, too – not too long, not too short!

My legs are still regaining their speed post-Marine Corps Marathon, so I wasn’t expecting any blazing fast PRs, but I was looking forward to pushing it on pace a bit. I miss running fast! It was crowded so I had to do a lot of weaving, especially in the first mile, but it felt good to challenge myself a bit.

Matt and I started together but got separated in the first half mile since it was so crowded, but then around mile 4 he pulled up next to me – yay! We ran the rest of the race together.

Official finish time: 40:40 for an average pace of 8:08. Not a new PR (my 5 mile PR is 38:13 from the Jingle All the Way 8k back in 2013 – I don’t do many 5 milers apparently) but I was pumped about that time – my speed is coming back! Always takes awhile post-marathon. Our last mile was actually a 7:37 pace – nice! Haven’t seen those times on my watch in quite awhile.

I had a banana and a peanut butter Perfect Bar post-race and then we tucked into brunch at home a little while later with Matt’s parents, who came into town for the holiday!

We spent the rest of the morning/early afternoon prepping for the feast! I was in charge of the veggies and prepped some brussels sprouts and squash so it was ready to throw into the oven at my parent’s place just before eating. I also made my homemade cranberry sauce!

We met up with my family around 4 for the main event. Matt put together a nice cheese and appetizer spread for us to enjoy while mingling pre-dinner.

Soon it was time to feast! We had two turkeys: my mom roasted one (she brined it first, which is the key to a moist roasted turkey) and Matt was in charge of our fried turkey in our awesome oil-less fryer. That thing cooks turkey fast – it was ready in a little over 2 hours!

Matt injected the turkey with some cajun flavor (butter + chicken broth + hot sauce + smoked paprika + salt + grated garlic) and then rubbed the outside with some salt, pepper, paprika, and cumin before putting it into the fryer. So good!

After relaxing for awhile after the meal we brought out dessert. I went for the pumpkin chiffon pie that Matt’s mom made – a recipe passed down from Matt’s grandmother!

Such a fun and delicious day. Matt’s parents are sticking around until tomorrow, so we’re gearing up to head into the city and wander around a bit. I’ll see you guys back here on Monday – have a great weekend!

]]>http://www.fannetasticfood.com/thanksgiving-2016-recap/feed/14Soaking Up Fall in DChttp://www.fannetasticfood.com/soaking-up-fall-in-dc/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/soaking-up-fall-in-dc/#commentsWed, 23 Nov 2016 15:18:04 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=49599Hey guys! I hope my American readers are gearing up for fun Thanksgiving celebrations tomorrow! In case you missed it, here are my Best Healthy Thanksgiving Recipes on the blog if you need some inspiration – and check out my post on How to Have a Stress-Free Holiday Eating Experience too. I’ve been having aContinue Reading …

I’ve been having a great week so far! On Monday, I kicked off my week with an early morning workout with my girls Kathleen and Chelsea. My favorite way to start the day – our workouts always leave me in the best mood! Endorphin high + fun catch up time with friends = the best. We hit up Urban Athletic Club via ClassPass again. It was hard but awesome as always!

After our workout I raced home to shower, eat, and get some work done, because one of my best friends from college, Kris, was coming into town for a visit late morning! Kris lives in Paris but was in the U.S. for a conference and turned it into a longer trip to see family and friends for the holiday.

I was so excited to see her! (We missed you this year, Turner!) She took the train down from Philadelphia, so I met her at Union Station at 11 and we grabbed lattes and started to stroll towards the Capitol. It was cold and windy out but the trees were so gorgeous against the bright blue sky!

By the time we made it around the Capitol and down towards the National Mall we were ready to warm up, so we popped into the U.S. Botanic Garden. It’s so lovely if you haven’t been before – and totally free, too! These replicas of the monuments are made entirely out of plants – amazing. They were also in the middle of putting up their Christmas decorations which are always gorgeous!

From there, we walked down the National Mall and then headed up a side street towards Metro Center for our lunch destination, my old fave Oyamel! I think this is the best Mexican place in DC – and I figured Kris would be up for Mexican since that’s something you don’t get much of in Europe. I was right!

Since this was a special occasion, we decided cocktails were in order. Yep, Monday at lunchtime cocktails. You only live once, friends! And this place has awesome and creative margaritas! Our fave was the cucumber one.

As for food, we got a million things and shared! They had a lunch special where you could get two small plates and one taco, so we each did that and shared everything. It was all delicious!

Post-lunch we headed back out for more strolling and monument viewing! We walked all the way down the mall to the Lincoln Memorial, then walked over to the White House before warming up with some tea at Teaism. My iphone’s built in activity tracker said we walked 7 miles – whoa!

After our tea break Kris headed back to Union Station to meet a couple others for dinner before heading back to Philadelphia. It was such a fun day with a good friend. I miss you already, Kris! Until next time.

I came home after the fun and caught up on work for a couple hours before enjoying a Sun Basket (<—affiliate link for 3 free meals) dinner with Matt. This tomato and coconut shrimp dish was probably my favorite meal from them so far – the flavors were so good! I added some quinoa to the mix, though, because it needed some more carbs. (It was one of their paleo offerings.) I definitely want to make this one again ASAP!

As for yesterday, I had another fun workout date: a run with my friend Karen! It was windy and cold again but with the sun it actually ended up being a really nice day for running. We met up late morning since we were both working from home and had some flexibility, so I worked for a couple hours before meeting her in Georgetown for some miles. Perfect!

We did a chatty 5 miles. I always love running with Karen – now that the weather isn’t hot and gross anymore I expect we’ll be doing more run dates again which makes me happy!

Post-run we weren’t ready to say goodbye and were still chatting up a storm so we walked to my new favorite Compass Coffee and enjoyed some pumpkin spice lattes.

The rest of yesterday was a normal workday, and Matt and I enjoyed another Sun Basket last night that I forgot to get a picture of. Instead, here is a funny photo of Zara – there are some leaves stuck right outside this window that she’s obsessed with because they blow in the breeze. Too funny!

Matt and I are both working from home today and his parents are arriving in the early evening for the holiday festivities! In addition to wrapping up work we need to hit the store. Tonight we’re making my Salmon with Lemon Mustard Dill Sauce for everyone, and we need to get ingredients for tomorrow’s feast, too! I’m in charge of the non-potato veggie sides (my brother is doing the mashed potatoes), and I’m making my homemade cranberry sauce, lemon garlic string beans, and brussels sprouts with delicata squash, currants, and hazelnuts (we were able to swap out one of our Sun Basket dinners this week for the ingredients to make that side dish instead – it’s enough for 8 to 10 people. awesome!) I might do some sort of a salad, too, just for fun – we’ll see! We will probably have way too much food but leftovers are always a good thing. My mom is roasting a turkey and Matt and his dad are frying a turkey for us too. So excited!

Before the madness begins, I’m taking myself to a nice lunchtime yoga class at Edge Yoga today, which I’m already looking forward to. As for tomorrow pre-feast, we’re doing our local favorite – the Alexandria 5 mile turkey trot! We love this race and have done it a bunch of times now – anytime we’re in the DC area for Thanksgiving! It’s a fun one.

I’ll leave you with a note that today is randomly National Espresso Day! Clearly I got on board with a double shot latte with whole milk (grassmillk!) this morning. To celebrate, I highly recommend you put a Nespresso machine and this milk frother on your holiday wish list. They are THE BEST.

Have a fabulous holiday guys! Spread some love and joy and enjoy some really delicious food. I’ll see you back here Friday with a recap!

]]>http://www.fannetasticfood.com/soaking-up-fall-in-dc/feed/9Best Healthy Thanksgiving Recipeshttp://www.fannetasticfood.com/best-healthy-thanksgiving-recipes/
http://www.fannetasticfood.com/best-healthy-thanksgiving-recipes/#commentsTue, 22 Nov 2016 14:19:40 +0000http://www.fannetasticfood.com/?p=42676Hi friends, and happy Thanksgiving week! I know many of you are finalizing your menus today, so I wanted to share a round up of the best healthy Thanksgiving recipes that I’ve shared here on the blog over the years. I originally shared this last year, but have updated it with new recipes from thisContinue Reading …

]]>Hi friends, and happy Thanksgiving week! I know many of you are finalizing your menus today, so I wanted to share a round up of the best healthy Thanksgiving recipes that I’ve shared here on the blog over the years. I originally shared this last year, but have updated it with new recipes from this year!

As you guys know, I don’t believe in only eating “healthy” stuff on Thanksgiving – that’s not fun or realistic (see also: How to Have a Stress-Free Holiday Eating Experience) – but it’s nice to have some less heavy and veggie-packed options in the mix as well. As my family’s unofficial dietitian, I’m always in charge of bringing veggies on Thanksgiving (and at Christmas)! So, enjoy – and please let me know if you try any of these recipes! I’d love to see photos.

This impressive, yet surprisingly easy, dish is packed with sweet and savory flavor from cranberries, squash, herbs, and feta cheese. It makes a great side – or even an entree if you have vegetarians attending your feast!